Walhalla – Donaustauf (near Regensburg)

The Walhalla is located in a dominant position high
above the Danube in the vicinity of Regensburg. This
Neoclassical building in the form of a temple surrounded by a portico with columns represents one
of the most important German national monuments
of the 19th century., which was created by order of
the Bavarian king Ludwig I (reigned 1825-1848). After
1807, in the wake of what was seen as a humiliating
defeat by the Napoleonic armies, Prince Ludwig decided that when he became king he would build a place
of remembrance for German-speaking men and women
of outstanding merit as an inspiration and reference
point for the nation. Under the influence of the historian
Johannes von Müller, who also made the initial selection
of the personalities to be honoured, the German pantheon
was called Walhalla after the warrior’s paradise of
Germanic mythology, Valhalla.

The Walhalla was built by Ludwig’s I favourite architect,
Leo von Klenze (1784-1864), one of the most important
Neoclassical architects of the 19th century.
The foundation stone was laid in 1830 and the building
was ceremoniously opened twelve years later, on 18 October 1842. Klenze’s design was primarily inspired by
the famous Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens dating from
5 BC. The combination of colonnaded temple and massive
substructure and the free design of the interior however
prevents the architecture from being a mere copy of the
ancient building. The temple building, which is clad inside
and out with precious marble, rises above the massive
tiered substructure. This was originally intended to house
the ‘Hall of Expectation’ containing the busts of people to
be honoured in the future.

Interior

Along the walls of the interior are the busts and memorial
plaques of the ‘Walhalla comrades’ chosen by Ludwig I and
his advisors, a selection of rulers, generals, scientists and
artists considered exemplary in the 19th century. The frieze
of figures by Martin von Wagner above them depicts an ideal
history of the Germanic people from the first migrants to
Christianization in the early Middle Ages.

Since 1962 new busts have been added to the original 96 at
intervals of five to seven years. The selection is made by the
Bavarian Council of Ministers, advised by the Bavarian Academy
of Sciences. Since 2016 the Walhalla has been administered
by the Bavarian Palace Department.

Admission charges 2017

Further information

Danger of accident!
Visitors to the Walhalla are urgently advised
to keep strictly within the white markings. Children in particular
must be supervised. The Free State of Bavaria and its staff are
not liable for any contraventions of this regulation.